Changeable letter sign and the like



July 12, 1938. J WENTZEL 2,123,758

CHANGEABLE LETTER SIGN AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 51, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR flairlZiJWez ATTORNEY Jul 12, 1938. L, J, WENTZEL 2,123,758

CHANGEABLE LETTER SIGN AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 31, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 ATTORNEY Patented July 12, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in changeable letter signs.

More specifically the'invention proposes the construction of a plate having a plurality of spaced slots dividing ofi strip portions between adjacent slots for supporting sign elements.

Still further the invention proposes the construction of a sign element which consists of a front portion extending transversely across each strip portion and having its bottom end portion engaging through the bottom slotof the strip portion, and its top end continuing through the top slot of said strip portion into a rear portion adapted to extend transversely across the back of said strip portion with its bottom end adjacent the bottom end ofsaid portion.

Still further it is proposed to provide a back plate which is adapted to-extend across'the back of said base plate for engaging against and hold ing the adjacent bottom "end portions 'of said sign elements. v

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the Various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying. drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a changeable letter sign constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectionalv View on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective ,view ofaone of the sign elements per se.

Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of a modification of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig 5.

Fig 8 is a view looking in the direction of the line 88 of Fig. 5.

Figs. 9-12 are perspective views of the discs, per se, used in conjunction with the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a further modification of the invention.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view on the line i4l4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the connected sign elements which are used in connection with the embodiment shown in Fig. 13..

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of still another modification of the invention.

The changeable letter sign, according to this invention, comprises a face plate l0 having a plurality of spaced slots ll dividing off strip por- 5* tions i2 between adjacent slots II. A plurality of sign elements l3 are mounted on each strip portion I2. Each sign element i3 comprises a front portion I3 extending transversely across the strip portion I2 with its bottom end portion l3 engaging through the bottom slot H of the strip portion l2 and a rear portion I3 which continues through the top slot ii of the strip I2 to the rear. This rear portion is adapted to extend transversely across the back of the strip portion I2 and have its bottom end I3 adjacent the bottom end portion i3 A back plate 14 622- tends across the back of the face plate H! for engaging against and holding the bottom por-- tions I3 and I3 of the sign elements IS.

The face plate I0 is constructed of a piece of sheet metal, or other similar material, and continues at its top edge into said back plate M. This back plate is provided with a plurality of inwardly extending prongs l5 which are adapted to engage against the back face of the end portion i3 for frictionally maintaining these ends in position between the front face ill and the back .face M. The bottom ends of the face plate Ill and the back plate [4 are provided WithM30|G aligned openings i6 through which a bolt H is adapted to pass for fixedly holding these plates together. The closed position of the back plate I4 is illustrated by the dot and dash lines I4 in Fig. 2.

The operation of this device is as follows:

The bolt I1 is removed from the openings l6 so that the back plate i4 may be swung away from the front plate in to permit those sign elements l3 now in position on the face plate to be removed. After these sign elements have been removed they may be replaced by any combination of sign elements for producing any desired sign for advertising various articles of merchandise. After these sign elements have been properly positioned upon the strip portions i2 with the ends l3 and W thereof properly positioned, the back plate I4 is again swung to the position in which the prongs i5 will engage against the ends I3 and I3 After this has been completed the bolts ll are engaged into the openings l6 for fixedly holding the plates iii and i4 together to prevent the sign elements from being accidentally displaced therefrom.

According to the modification shown in Figs. 551:;

512, inclusive, a face plate I is provided at its upper portion with a plurality of slots l I dividing off strip portions l2 upon which sign elements l3 may be supported. The bottom portion of this 5 face plate I0 is formed into an envelope by doubling a portion thereof Ill upon itself and attaching the edges thereof together so that the top lll thereof will be open. The bottom portion of the face plate It! is provided with an opening l8 and imprinted advertising matter I9. Superimposed discs 20 and 21 are adapted to be rotatively connected together by a pin 22 which passes through the center thereof.

combination will be viewable through the opening- I 8. Thus the combination of numbers will act to indicate the price of the merchandise which is advertised by the printed matter 59. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form.

According .to the modification shown in Figs. 13-15 inclusive a face plate H! is provided 0 with a plurality of slots ll dividing off strip portions [2 upon which sign elements l3 are adapted to be supported. These sign elements I3 are connected together (see Fig. 15) and are adapted to be cut apart and folded on their 51 center line to produce the shape which is adapted to be hooked through the slots II. The two faces of the sign elements I3 are'imprinted with various markings 26 so that when they are Thus ;:this form of the invention simulates a puzzle put together they will form a picture.

wgztion is similar to the previousform.

Accordingto the modification shown. in Fig.'

16, the face plate It is provided with a rear pocket it! into which discs 20 and 2| may be inserted for giving the price of the merchandise advertised thereon. This face plate I0 is provided with an opening I8 and a plurality of slots ll dividing off separate strip portions 12 upon which sign elements l3. are adapted to be interchangeably mounted for advertising a desired commodity, the price of which will be viewable through the openings l8. .In other respects this form is similar to the form illustrated in Figs. 5-12 inclusive.

While I have illustrated and described the fifizlpreferred embodiments of my invention, it. is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention ie'as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A changeable letter sign, comprising a face tplate having a plurality of spaced slots divid- The top disc 20 is provided alternately with indicia' 23 and openings 24, while the bottom discll Thus. these In other respects this'form of the inven- .back of said face plate for engaging against and holding the rear portions of said sign elements.

2; A changeable letter sign, comprising a face plate having a. plurality of spaced slots dividing off" strip portions between adjacent slots, a plu- .rality of sign elements mounted on each strip portion, each sign element comprising a front portion extending transversely across said strip portion'and having-its bottom end portion engaging through the bottom slot of said strip portion and its top end continuing through the top slot of said strip portion into a rear portion, said rear portion extending transversely across the back of said strip portion and having its end portion adjacent said bottom end portion,fiand a back plate for extending across the back of said face plate for engaging against and holding the rear portions of said sign elements, said back plate being provided with a plurality of inwardly extending prongs which are adapted to engage the bottom ends of said sign elements for frictionally holding these elements in position upon the strip portion.

3. A changeable letter sign, comprising a face plate having aplurality of spaced slots dividing off strip portions between adjacent slots, a

plurality of sign elements mounted on each strip portion, each sign element comprising a front portion extending transversely, across said. stripportion and :having its bottom'end portion engaging through'the bottom slot of said strip portion and its topend continuing through the top slot of said strip portion into a rear-portion, said rear portion extendingrtransversely across the back of said strip portion and'having its endwportion' adjacent said-bottom end portion, and a back plate for-extending across the back of saidface plate for engaging :against and holding the rear portions of said sign elements, and means for clamping saidplates together.

4. A changeable letter sign, comprising a face plate havingaplurality-of lspaced slots dividing off strip portions between adjacent slots, a plurality of sign elements mounted-on each strip portion, each sign element comprising a front portion extending transversely across said strip portion and having its bottom end portion engaging through the bottom slot of said strip portion and its top end continuing through the top slot of said strip portion into a rear portion, said rear portion extending transversely across the back of said strip portion and having its end portion adjacent said bottom end portion, and a back plate for extending across the back' of saidface plate for'engaging against'and holding the rear portions of said sign elements, and means for clamping said plates together, comprising bolts engageable through aligned openings formed in said face plate and said back plate for clamping said plates together.

5. A changeable letter-sign, comprising a face plate having a plurality of spaced slots dividing 01f strip portions between adjacent slots, aplurality of sign elements mounted on each strip portion, each sign element comprising a front portion extending transversely across said strip portion and having its bottom end portion engaging through the bottom slot of said strip por tion and its top end continuing through the top slot of said strip portion into a rear portion, said rear portion extending transversely across the back of said strip portion and having its end portion adjacent said bottom end portion, and a back plate for extending across the back of said face plate for engaging against and holding the rear portions of said sign elements, and means for clamping said plates together, comprising lugs formed on said back plate which are adapted to engage through slots formed in said face plate for holding these plates together.

6. A changeable letter sign, comprising a face plate having a plurality of spaced slots dividing oil strip portions between adjacent slots, a plurality of sign elements mounted on each strip portion, each sign element comprising a front portion extending transversely across said strip portion and having its bottom end portion engaging through the bottom slot of said strip portion and its top end continuing through the top slot of said strip portion into a rear portion, said rear portion extending transversely across the back of said strip portion and having its end portion adjacent said bottom end portion, and a back plate for extending across the back of said face plate for engaging against and holding the rear portions of said sign elements, and means for clamping said plates together, comprising lugs formed on said back plate which are adapted to engage through slots formed in said face plate for holding these plates together, said lugs being formed by cutting slits inward from the edge of said back plate.

'7. A changeable letter sign, comprising a face plate having a plurality of spaced slots dividing off strip portions between adjacent slots, a plurality of sign elements mounted on each strip portion, each sign element comprising a front portion extending transversely across said strip portion and having its bottom end portion engaging through the bottom slot of said strip portion and its top end continuing through the top slot of said strip portion into a rear portion, said rear portion extending transversely across the back of said strip portion and having its end portion adjacent said bottom end portion, and a back plate for extending across the back of said face plate for engaging against and holding the rear portions of said sign elements, said sign elements comprising letters, symbols, pictures, or portions of pictures, and puzzles.

8. A changeable letter sign, comprising a face plate having a plurality of spaced slots dividing off strip portions between adjacent slots, a plurality of sign elements mounted on each strip portion, each sign element comprising a front portion extending transversely across said strip portion and having its bottom end portion engaging through the bottom slot of said strip portion and its top end continuing through the top slot of said strip portion, into a rear portion, said rear portion extending transversely across the back of said strip portion and having its end portion adjacent said bottom end portion, and a back plate for extending across the back of said face plate for engaging against and holding the rear portions of said sign elements, said sign elements comprising letters, symbols, pictures, or portions of pictures, and puzzles, said elements being imprinted on both its front portion and its rear portion so that said sign element may be engaged upon said strip portions with either its front portion or its rear portion facing forward.

LODWICK J. WENTZEL. 

